Nothing but a good time: Our podcast interview with Bret Michaels

Whether you're 15 years old or 50, you know who Bret Michaels is. Possibly more than any other single '80s artist, Michaels has infiltrated every single level of pop culture these days, from winning Celebrity Apprentice to his much-publicized battle with the grim reaper earlier this year that had him visiting more hospitals than concert halls.

Oh, and in the meantime, he managed to continue doing what he does best: singing some stanky hair-metal goodness. (He'll be bringing all the Poison hits and his solo material to town for a free show Saturday night at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.)

I'm going to say it right now: Bret Michaels is the ultimate comeback hero of the year.

So imagine the glee we felt as we interviewed the mighty Michaels this week for a special Stuck in the '80s podcast. You can literally hear us hyperventilating at times. Click here to listen to the show. Or click here to get all our shows for free via iTunes.

In the meantime, here are some highlights from our chat with Bret Michaels...

ON HIS HEALTH: "Honestly, I'm feeling much, much better than I was a few months ago. Not quite 100 percent yet. I think they found what a lot of the problem was. I have a hole in my heart. They go in and close that up in January."

ON HOLDING BACK ON STAGE FOR HEALTH REASONS: "I give everything that I've got. When I go onstage and play the solo shows, it's the same energy that I give with Poison."

ON PLAYING 'EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORN' EACH NIGHT: "When I play it, there’s still that feeling, that emotion that you get anytime you hear something that reminds you of someone, especially if you wrote it."

About this blog

Relive the '80s music, movies and culture with Tampa Bay Times correspondent Steve Spears. A teen during the greatest decade ever, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to big hair.